Re: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class

Hi Anh Hua,
You have gotten a lot of feedback already.
I'll just add a couple academic resources that I found very enlightening
and useful when I started on my masters degree 2 years ago. The 2007 study
on screen reader users by Lazar et al describes in detail how they designed
their data collection survey and signing procedures in a way to not
"frustrate" the people they wanted to study. Times have changed, so you
will make different kinds of adjustments to your methods; however, the
article is a nice example of how it takes effort and thought to design
inclusive research methods. Another useful read is an updated version of a
2008 paper on writing about accessibility by Hanson, Cavender and Trewin. I
hope you find these resources as useful and enlightening as I did. Good
luck with your studies.

Taliesin

Lazar, J., Allen, A., Kleinman, J., & Malarkey, C. (2007). What Frustrates
Screen Reader Users on the Web: A Study of 100 Blind Users. *International
Journal of Human-Computer Interaction*, *22*(3), 247–269.
http://doi.org/10.1080/10447310709336964

Hanson, V. L., Cavender, A., & Trewin, S. (2015). Writing about
accessibility. Interactions, 22(6), 62–65. http://doi.org/10.1145/2828432



On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 7:51 PM, Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu> wrote:

> Hi Karen,
>
> Thank you for your feedback!
>
> For the scope of this class, my focus is screen readers and the internet.
> The purpose is to understand how people use screen reader to access content
> on websites, identify common patterns and learn about what can be done to
> improve the web browsing experience. I understand it is limited in scope
> and doesn't cover all of the use cases of other assistive technology as
> well as different ways people access content on the web. However, with the
> time and resources, I can't dive deeper into this topic as I would like to.
>
> May I ask what is the operating system, screen reader, and browser that
> you use?
> I'll be sure to include this issue in the report!
>
> Thanks again!
>
> *ANH HUA*
> College of Engineering
> University of Washington | Class of 2017
> Human Centered Design and Engineering
> anhhua@uw.edu
>
> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 3:04 PM, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net>
> wrote:
>
>> One more point then.
>> Your institution has  Human centered design in its name.    may I suggest
>> that you treat this subject if you can of course, with the individual human
>> respect that title mandates.
>> Just as DNA sets individuals apart in unique but human ways, the factors
>> behind the  choices of adaptive tools may be governed by human individual
>> choices.  Choices that regardless of a shared label, may be as different as
>> DNA.
>> Off my soapbox smiles.
>> Karen
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, Anh Hua wrote:
>>
>> I'm also taking notes of all of the opinions! Thank you for taking the
>>> time
>>> to give feedback!
>>>
>>> Best wishes!
>>>
>>> *ANH HUA*
>>> College of Engineering
>>> University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>> Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>> anhhua@uw.edu
>>>
>>> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 1:36 PM, Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm terribly sorry to hear that it wasn't accessible for you. I'm a
>>>> student and am just starting to learn about accessibility, therefore I
>>>> don't entirely have the hang of it yet. I consulted a few people who use
>>>> screen readers to see which survey tool was accessible to use before
>>>> starting the project. At the end I went with Google Form because it
>>>> allowed
>>>> anyone to access, as opposed to Catalyst, a survey tool my school
>>>> provide.
>>>> However it seems like it is not accessible for everyone.
>>>>
>>>> So I have a few questions regarding the feedback:
>>>>
>>>>    1. Can you tell me what was inaccessible about it so I can make sure
>>>>    it doesn't happen again?
>>>>    2. What survey tools do you usually use that are accessible?
>>>>    3. For the problems you encountered, have that happened with Google
>>>>    Form before?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you!
>>>>
>>>> *ANH HUA*
>>>> College of Engineering
>>>> University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>>> Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>> anhhua@uw.edu
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 9:54 AM, <accessys@smart.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> agree with all you have said and I probably would have said similar if
>>>>> I
>>>>> wasn't so dang PO'd after my first attempt. then got busy with work.
>>>>>
>>>>> let me just add
>>>>>
>>>>> Amen!!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, Karen Lewellen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 11:51:02 -0400 (EDT)
>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net>
>>>>>> To: accessys@smart.net
>>>>>> Cc: Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu>, w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class
>>>>>> Resent-Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 15:51:34 +0000
>>>>>> Resent-From: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ...Actually rather a few issues here.
>>>>>> If this survey is to have choices, it is not constructed towards that
>>>>>> end. instead at least for me, the entire survey is one long text entry
>>>>>> field. Was that intended?
>>>>>> Further, your questions suggest that the tool, somehow changes the
>>>>>> object on which that tool is used, rather than individual choices and
>>>>>> goals
>>>>>> influencing how a tool is used. Some screen readers do just that read,
>>>>>> think of our monitor, some allow a person to interact, some work
>>>>>> better in
>>>>>> different computer environments.
>>>>>> Additionally many populations besides those experiencing vision issues
>>>>>> can and often do make use of screen readers.
>>>>>> I have read more than once that  the human brain processes faster with
>>>>>> verbal input, so  that can translate to a person with another reading
>>>>>> uniqueness benefiting as well.
>>>>>> lastly since screen readers can be used in combination with other
>>>>>> technology, you may be missing some applications of your research.
>>>>>> Speaking only for myself the stereotypes associated with adaptive
>>>>>> technology do a great deal of damage.  Your questions seem rooted in
>>>>>> more
>>>>>> stereotypes as I read it, suggesting that only one population should
>>>>>> enjoy
>>>>>> inclusive web experiences.  that has me wondering what your survey
>>>>>> will
>>>>>> contribute to the inclusiveness field?
>>>>>> Karen
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, accessys@smart.net wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> survey doesn't work with all screen readers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> nothing like a survey about screen readers that won't work with
>>>>>>> them......
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bob
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, 16 May 2016, Anh Hua wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 19:56:50 -0700
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  From: Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu>
>>>>>>>>  To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>>>  Subject: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class
>>>>>>>>  Resent-Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 02:57:24 +0000
>>>>>>>>  Resent-From: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Hi everyone,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  My name is Anh Hua. I am a student at the University of Washington
>>>>>>>>  studying
>>>>>>>>  Human Centered Design and Engineering. This quarter I'm taking a
>>>>>>>> class in
>>>>>>>>  user research. I'm really interested in accessibility, therefore I
>>>>>>>> am
>>>>>>>>  learning about web accessibility and screen reader usage. I would
>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>>  appreciate it if you can help me with this survey. The survey is
>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>> 5
>>>>>>>>  minute long, and it would help solidify my findings from previous
>>>>>>>> projects
>>>>>>>>  as well as provide insights for my final reports.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  The link to the survey is listed below:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Link to Survey <http://goo.gl/forms/M7fUC8HKpg>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Thank you all! I would also really appreciate it if you have
>>>>>>>> friends
>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>  acquaintances who use screen readers and would have great insights
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> add.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Best wishes,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  *ANH HUA*
>>>>>>>>  College of Engineering
>>>>>>>>  University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>>>>>>>  Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>>>>>>  anhhua@uw.edu
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>